Anesthesia is meant to help a patient either sleep during the procedures, relax during the procedure, or numb the area being operated on. Unfortunately, if the anesthesia is administered incorrectly or the patient is not monitored correctly, there can be dire complications.

The most common anesthesia-related injuries (in order of frequency) are teeth damage, death, nerve damage, organ damage, pain, and cardiopulmonary arrest.

The unintended retention of foreign objects (URFOs) or retained surgical items (RSIs) after a procedure can lead to death. Those who survive may sustain both physical and mental harm dependent on the type of object and the amount of time it remains. Most URFOs are detected immediately after the procedure, during an x-ray, routine follow-up visit, or by the patient reporting discomfort.

The wrong surgery site or operating on the incorrect body part can devastate the patient. There have been incidences of the wrong body part being operated on, the wrong side (left arm instead of right arm), or even the wrong site or procedure being performed (mixed-up patients). Here are but a few reasons:

• Scheduling issues
• Inconsistent use of site marking protocol
• Rushing during patient verification
• Primary documentation not used to verify patient procedure
• Inconsistent organizational focus on patient safety
• Competition & pressure to increase surgical volume leading to shortcuts and variations in practice

Infections are caused by microorganisms entering open wounds. They are transmitted by non-sterile surgical equipment, non-sterile clothing from the medical staff, or a non-sterile environment. Infections can also occur after surgery if the staff does not use sterile gloves or sterile dressings on the surgery site.

An infection can quickly turn into blood poisoning, which causes fever, heart disease, nausea, or chills. There will also be classic signs of infection, such as swelling or redness and an unpleasant smell of pus.

Prescription drug errors are a common form of medical malpractice. The effects can range from minimal to fatal, depending on the error.

Some of the most common types of prescription drug errors are:

• Using or providing the wrong medication or the wrong dosage of that medication.
• Not considering patient allergies when prescribing or administering medication.
• Administering mislabeled medication (the wrong type or dosage).
• Prescribing medication that would have a negative interaction with other medications being taken by the patient.

Failing to monitor or discharging the patient prematurely can be done by a doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, or any other medical professional. These can lead to an injury becoming worse, increase the cost of medical expenses or cause the patient pain, emotional distress, or lost wages.

Dehydration is when there is an excessive loss of water. This condition disrupts the body’s normal functions. An elderly person loses more liquids than they take in, which leads to dehydration. The elderly are less thirsty and have deteriorated kidney function, making them less able to conserve fluids.

Symptoms of dehydration can be very severe but subtle. Signs of dehydration are confusion and disorientation, drop in blood pressure, skin that won’t bounce back, trouble using the bathroom, exhaustion, and changes in mood.

Malnutrition is the most widespread health issue in nursing homes. When an elderly person is not eating enough or not eating enough of the right foods, or they are not getting the recommended daily value of vitamins, malnutrition will occur. 

Physical symptoms of malnutrition include:

• Mouth Signs—The mouth may become bright red with canker sores, thrush, or white patches on the cheeks and tongue.
• Muscular Problems—Muscles become flaccid due to the body using up nutrients it is not receiving from food.
• Eye signs—Vision may worsen, eyes may become glassy and red, or the corneas may become swollen.
• Cognitive Difficulties—Elderly may become listless or irritable or be unable to think clearly. In extreme cases, dementia and confusion may occur.
• Skin issues—Skin may become wrinkled and yellow.

There are many types of infections the elderly can contract while in a nursing home; if untreated, these infections can lead to death. The most common infections are Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), urinary tract infections (UTI), pneumonia, staph infections, influenza, staph, and sepsis.

Infections in nursing homes are common, but they can turn deadly when not properly cared for. Alerting staff members immediately if you notice any signs or symptoms of these infections or if your loved one is acting strangely can prevent the infections from becoming deadly.

Pressure sores, also called pressure ulcers or bed sores, are common in people with a medical condition that limits or prevents their ability to change positions without assistance. This includes people who are confined to a wheelchair or bed. The sores typically occur in areas where the skin covers bony parts of the body, such as heels, ankles, tailbone, and hips.

Symptoms of a bed sore are unusual skin color or texture changes, swelling, puss-like draining, tender areas, and/or areas that feel warmer or cooler to the touch. There are four stages of a bed sore based on severity, size, depth, and other characteristics. Most bed sores can be treated; however, some never heal and can move to the bone and muscle.

Falls can cause broken bones, head injuries, and fear of falling. Conditions that can cause the elderly to fall are weakness in the lower body, vitamin D deficiency, balance issues, medications, vision problems, foot pain and/or poor footwear.

Preventing falls can be done quickly, especially if nursing home staff are aware of the above conditions. If you feel the nursing home is not taking proper precautions, alert them immediately.

Broken hips and other fractures can occur during a fall or if a staff member is not careful with an elderly patient. Broken hips and fractures in the legs and feet put the elderly patient at risk of another fall and can affect their mobility.

Typical fractures in elderly patients in the nursing home population include hip fractures, thigh fractures, pelvic fractures, back or vertebrae fractures, arm and hand fractures, and ankle or leg fractures.